Monday, June 6, 2016

An Unknown Servant?

OUR LESSON for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost comes to us
from the Gospel According to Saint Luke. Herein our author described a ministry
that was spontaneously offered to Jesus in love…

“One of the Pharisees
asked him (Jesus) to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house, and
took his place at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner,
when she learned that he was at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an
alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she
began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head,
and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw
it, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known
who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a
sinner." And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to
say to you." And he answered, "What is it, Teacher?"

"A certain creditor had two debtors; one
owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he
forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more?"

Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, to
whom he forgave more." And he said to him, "You have judged
rightly."

Then turning toward the woman he said to
Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house, you gave me no water
for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her
hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to
kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet
with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven,
for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little."

And he said to her, "Your sins are
forgiven."

Then those who were at table with him began to
say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?"

And he said to the woman, "Your faith has
saved you; go in peace."

Soon afterward he
went on through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of
the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and
also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary,
called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of
Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out
of their means. (Luke 7:36-8:3)

Who Is This?

In the house of an adherent of the Law, a Pharisee named
Simon, Jesus is anointed by an unknown woman of the city. Here we know only
that she was classified as sinner under the Law by both the writer of Luke and
the Pharisee host of Jesus.

We note that similar scenes
exist in all four gospel records. In this, as recorded by Luke, the woman is unknown; whereas, in others she
is a named and known individual. If the occasion behind all of the stories is a
singular event, we may suspect that the story originally comes from a
pre-Markan source, which was retold and adapted by each writer for his
communities. If so, surely here in the most remote in date from the original
story, we find the author revealed much about the presuppositions and nuances
of his own time.

In Luke, according to
the narrative, Jesus relates that the “unknown” woman from the streets comes to
him having many sins. I thus dabble in the thought that the unknown identity of
the woman in this reading is a deliberate touch, one which seemed to push the
envelope of universally-available forgiveness far beyond the Pharisaic realm.
Indeed, the first noticeable character of the unknown woman is her universality
from the street, and this universality works to focus the reader on the bounteous
nature of God’s forgiving love.

A second factor comes
as highlighted by Jesus’ questioning. Here our Lord demonstrated the disparity
of human response to grace given, by comparing those who know much forgiveness,
over against those who deem themselves pious enough that they only need possess
forgiveness for a few “minor” infractions. This lesson thus offers a paradox
for readers. If we are placed into the ancient setting of the Jewish
communities within the dispersed Roman Empire, and farther… we see a sense the commendable
synagogue piety, but here piety was overshadowed by good news poured out to
those, including Gentiles, who had come in from streets afar. To the first
class of persons, these latter were considered as untouchable unless they are
of high station. To those being received, it was pure grace.

Thus in example, to
this unknown woman Jesus gave forgiveness, acceptance, and love… as
invitation to all those who were later considered as outsiders. Amid the unnamed,
unknown, and unacceptable Gentile sinners of Luke’s day, were persons who responded
to the divine call of Jesus unto repentance. Also, as warning to those who
considered themselves as “chosen’… a step or two higher on the righteousness
scale… a warning lay hidden in the story’s unfolding. Jesus said directly to
the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” We notice rightly that the absolution went
to no one else in the house, and we read further of the surprise and discussion
of those “chosen” who then sat offended by the declaration. Some in our own day are yet offended.

Of Low and High!

Interestingly, Luke
tendered that afterward Jesus continued on his way preaching the welcome good
news of repentance and forgiveness. Also, in the subsequent description of the
group… the name-dropping writer notably included the apostles and the names of
Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and others. Many historical traditions thus surmise
that the woman who anointed our Lord’s feet was indeed Mary Magdalene, but in
my view that is surely historical conjecture. The presupposition falsely
portrays Mary Magdalene, and we lose the importance of the woman’s unknown
identity, whether she was Jewish or Gentile, a huckster of fruit or foil, rich
or poor.

More so, hiding slightly
aside in the telling, almost latently resting within the descriptive narrative,
is the name of “Chuza”. The woman was reportedly the wife of Herod’s steward. About
her, I say to you… “Read between the lines people!” Through her did not the text thus subtly reveal the universal availability of salvation? Indeed, this was an available
salvation that included not only those disciples who were warmed by outsiders in the
shadowy fires of a temple courtyard, but also was grace offered through
this characterization. This was a woman who was the wife of one who served and was associated
with high, influential persons, and walked among hostile political courtyards. Consequently we today find that not only does the unknown, sinful woman anoint the feet of our Savior, but those knowing the very halls of the elite were welcomed by our Lord. They were also called serve our Lord’s mission. Thus within
the listing of this name we find a mirror held high before us. We thus may see a Holy
Spirit-borne reflection of ourselves as sinful servants, whether male or
female, young or old, or working fervently in high or low societal station. Gathered together as sinful before
the font of the Holy, we who walk together in faith in the church of Christ were brought
full circle, to become anointed in baptism and fed at the Holy Eucharist.
We are subsequently called to be collectively providing the gospel message out of whatever
station or means through which we individually work. We are prompted by this gospel message as the church of Jesus Christ, to become a people going forth cooperatively to do ministry in what is often a divided, sinful and hostile world. By the power of the Holy Spirit, it is our anointed privilege so to do. So it is written, and so it shall be.